DO-IT-YOURSELF MOVING - One way to save hundreds of dollars is to
make the move yourself. Here are some guidelines to do-it-yourself moving.

The alternative to hiring a professional moving is handling the move on your
own. Although working with an experienced moving company may help ease the
burdens of relocation, perhaps you don't want to deal with the contracts and
schedules, the game of phone-tag, or the costs.

Depending on how many items you need to pack and move, it may be more
cost-effective to do the move yourself.

A small move consisting of 12 boxes and no large furniture may require only
a mini-van or a small rental truck and can be accomplished in a matter of
hours with a few people.

In these cases, it would be needless to hire a moving company and pay the
workers by the hour.

The most successful moves are the ones that are manageable within your time
schedule and your manpower, in terms of the distance you'll need to drive
and the items you'll need to move.

If the move is considerably larger and the process takes longer to complete
than anticipated, especially in long-distance moves, consider the trade-off
of missing work and a sizable portion of your paycheck.

Add to this the extra expenses of a self-move, such as fuel, food, lodging,
and tolls. How much money will you really be saving?

Factors to Consider

In theory, a self-move may be easier and more economical, however, in
practice, this is not always the case. Before deciding whether to handle
your own move, here are some factors to consider:

Do you have time to do the entire job?

Packing, loading/unloading, & driving can be very time-consuming.
Relocation is a process that cannot be left incomplete with hope of
finishing at a later time.

How many items do you need to move?

Larger residential self-moves are more difficult. There may be heavy
furniture and appliances that need to be packed and loaded.

Are you physically capable of loading/unloading on both ends of the
move?

Assess your situation. Never take on a role too big or over-exert
yourself under any circumstances. Cross-country driving is very tedious.

Will you have family & friends whom are willing to help?

Always have people help you through the relocation process. Remember
that safety is the primary concern. Anyone handling heavy furniture is
susceptible to injuries, even professional movers.

However, moving companies have liability insurance for their employees in
case of injury. Obtaining extra insurance for your self-move would be more
costly.
Keep in mind that the availability of your family & friends depend on the
timing of your move. You may have to consider hiring labor on both ends of
your move.

How much is your shipment worth?

Extra coverage may be necessary for your items because the coverage
provided by the rental truck company will only protect your items if the
damages are caused by vehicular malfunctions, not load shifting or
driver-caused accidents. However, insurance companies charge a lot less
when you use a professional moving company. Much more damage is expected
to occur during a self-move. You're solely responsible for any damages to
your items.

Are you licensed to drive a big truck?

You may need a special permit to drive one. Rental trucks handle
differently from your average car. They are top-heavy and the braking
distances are longer.

Will you be making arrangements for your spouse, children, and pets?

There may not be enough space in the truck for your family and your pets.
You'll have to make provisions for them to follow in a separate car or to
reserve flight seats. If you are making a long-distance move, factor in
the costs of food and lodging.

Options to Consider

Pickup & Delivery Services (PUD)
An alternative to a self-move is a pickup & delivery service. Moving
companies that offer this service drop off an adequate-sized trailer at
your home. You will have at least two days to load all of your items at
your convenience. You will still need the help of several family members
and friends or hired labor for your large furniture and boxes. You should
have everything packed before the trailer is dropped off. You can control
the cost of your move because you only pay for the space in the trailer
that you use.

Once you've finished loading, you call the office to schedule the pickup.
The trailer is transported by a professional driver to your destination.

You still maintain the majority of responsibilities as you would in a
self-move, however this service saves you the troubles of driving an
unfamiliar vehicle as well as the difficulties of the tedious long
distance drives.

Unlike a rental truck, expenses such as toll fees, gas, flat tires, and
engine blowouts are covered by the moving company.

Hiring labor
If you have large furniture and appliances that need to be loaded and you
cannot secure the services of enough friends or family members, you should
consider contacting a local moving company and hire workers by the hour.
They will save you from having to lift heavy items. A big advantage is
because they are professional movers they will know how to maximize the
space in the trailer. You can save money because you only pay for the
space in the trailer that you use.
If you require additional help at your new home, contact a local moving
company in that area and reserve workers to be present when your shipment
is delivered.

We do business in accordance with Federal Fair Housing law. (Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988).Some of the content on on this website has been secured from outside sources. We believe it to be reliable, however, we make no representation or warranty, expressed or implied , as to the accurrent Rental information is subject to change with or without prior notification.